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Roth buries Buetow in race for Central Ward seat on Bainbridge Island City Council

Wayne Roth has pulled ahead by an impressive margin in the race for the Central Ward, Position 5 seat on the Bainbridge Island City Council.

Roth was leading the race in the first vote count released by the Kitsap County Elections Division on Election Night.

Roth had 61.4 percent of the vote, while his opponent Arlene Buetow had 38.5 percent.

The first vote tally was 3,144-1,970.

The campaign for the Central Ward seat has brought together one familiar face and one new.

Buetow, 56, has been on the Utility Advisory Committee since 2009 and is the current chairwoman.

She has based her campaign largely on her expertise in utility accounts. Her experience ranges from many years working in economic research and finance with the Boeing Company to several years working with the city in contracting and utilities.

Buetow has said numerous times in her campaign that she will use this experience to improve the fiscal structure and efficiency of the city.

In a statement for the county voter's guide, Buetow said, "The city council could start taking a fresh look at the City's scope of services, reviewing costs versus benefits of individual activities and embracing regional cooperation where it provides savings and efficiencies."

Roth, 70, promised that if elected, he would be guided by values of integrity, access, engagement and collaboration.

He has worked in public media for 40 years, including nine years on the National Public Radio board of directors.

While Buetow's experience is in utility finance and she promised to use that experience to aid in better fiscal control, Roth's experience is in communications and board positions.

In his campaign, Roth promised to use that experience to maintain the roles of a council-manager form of government much like a board of directors would in a nonprofit organization like KUOW and NPR.

The elected council member for the race will take up the seat currently held by Councilwoman Debbi Lester.

Lester decided not to run for re-election.

Voters also cast ballots in two other races for the Bainbridge Island City Council. None of the races featured incumbents.

Val Tollefson and Dick Haugan are in the running for the North Ward, Position 7 seat and Dee McComb and Roger Townsend are vying for the South Ward, Position 3 seat.

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